Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

Does it show the partitions correctly to choose from on the XP Drive selection menu? If not you may need to add SATA controllers which are too modern to be in the XP installer:
SATA Drivers - Load in Windows XP Setup on Dual Boot
SATA Drivers - Slipstream into Windows XP CD

It's also best to use an XP installer for your version with SP3.

If you don't want to go to the trouble of inserting the SATA controller drivers or troubleshooting, try virtualizing XP in Win7 using XP Mode in Ultimate or Pro, Virtual Box, Virtual Player or VMWare.

Hi,

I've already slipstreamed the SATA controllers onto the installation disk. The XP installation gets to the point where it's already copied a bunch of files to the new partition and reboots the computer to continue the installation. Once it's rebooted, I get the "Error loading Operating System" message and it won't continue the installation.

I haven't put SP3 in, but would that really have an effect? At that point the setup programme surely won't have installed SP3.

FunkyMunkey said:

I've followed the tip about using bootrec, follow the rest of the guide to Step 12, but when I restart the computer, it just boots straight into Windows 7 and doesn't give me the option to finish the installation of XP.

You can only use Bootsect.exe and Bcdedit.exe when Win XP has finished installing.

During install try full formatting the partition after deleting it first. If it fails again I would locate an XP with SP3 installer for your version, which must be retail- or OEM-specific. If you use a torrent make sure to check the comments to be sure nothing has been added like a crack.

Hi guys, new to the forums!

I am a bit stuck. I have windows 7 ultimate running on my computer at the moment but want to dual boot with windows XP, I insert windows XP Disk and get to the blue screen when it starts loading files and then I get stuck on "windows is loading setup" or something similar, stays there for hours. Now I can fix this issue by pressing F5 when prompted to press F6 on the beginning of this setup, if I choose another option (say standard PC or ACPI PC) it will get past the "windows is loading setup" and allow me to choose which partition to install XP too. I install to a partition, it copies files then wants to restart.

After it restarts if I dont boot from disk I get the error message; A disk error has occoured. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart.

Now I can fix that using the repair option on my win 7 disk, the XP files are copied to the hard drive but it just does not continue the installation.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance

Are you using an XP CD with SP3? I'd try that first. You likely don't need SATA controller drivers added if it sees the partitions on HD.

Have you considered virtualizing XP in XP Mode which is available to install free in Ultimate version?

Have you tried removing the drive letters in XP Disk Management? What happens exactly?

Hi gregrocker,
In disc management I was Able to remove the drive letter for D: and it is now removed from "My Computer".
The System Reserved (C: ) Drive, Disk management would not let you remove the drive letter.
I will now try rebooting it and seeing if restore points remain.
Many thanks for the help,
Regards
KingWhiskers :)

1. Hi all,

I do not know what I am doing wrong here.
I installed 7 Ultimate 64 bit on a new Seagate Momentus XT hybrid 500 GB hard drive.
a few driver issues but sorted easily from help on the forums here.
The install of 7 formatted the hard drive and it created a
System Reserved C: 100 Mb
And I dived the remaining space for 7 and XP to
Install drive for 7 D: 310 GB
And left for XP E: 155 GB
Installed XP Pro SP3 on E: a few problems finding Drivers as the laptop was built for Vista but now fully working and updated.
After following the Tutorial for hiding Vista & 7 from XP by Brink I still have a problem with XP deleting the 7 restore files.
screen shots from XP And 7 Disc management.

As you can see XP is installed in E: and 7 is installed in D: with the drive letter removed and it does not show in My Computer.

In the Disc Management from 7 all the Drives are listed and Lettered.
The F: drive is the System Reserved Drive that I had to assign a letter to to be able to Dual Boot with for Easy BCD.

I know I have Bit locker in 7 Ultimate but I did not really want to use it.
Any suggestions gratefully received.
If starting again and installing XP first would help to sort this out I would do that as there is nothing on there to worry about.
I can either run Seatools from CD and clean the drive totally or take it out and run it on my desktop and start fresh.
Many thanks
KingWhiskers